Our History
When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.
Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.
MMS-Payne has the only privately owned and operated funeral home and crematory in Rogers County to serve our families.
We do not use an answering service at any time of the day. Our phones are always answered by one of our experienced staff members. We do not use outside service providers except when absolutely necessary, when you need us your loved one will be cared for personally by our experienced and knowledgeable staff. Your loved one will never leave our care from death to final disposition.
MMS-Payne Funeral Home & Cremation Service is owned by Ryan and Brandi Payne. Three licensed funeral directors and embalmers on the staff: Ryan Payne, Allen McElwain, Guess Leonard and Jimmy Beggs, the most experienced staff in Rogers County.
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Ryan Payne, Owner/Funeral Director and Embalmer
Ryan Payne, a Rogers County native, started working for the Smith’s washing cars and doing yard work. The Catoosa High School graduate worked summers while he was earning a Bachelor's of Mortuary Science at the University of Central Oklahoma. He is married to Brandi Girten and lives in Chelsea. They have three daughters. He is the son of Charlie and Betty Payne of Claremore and Sharon and Jack Sappington of Chelsea. He is a member of the Claremore, Chelsea, and Inola Chamber of Commerce and attends the First United Methodist Church in Claremore. He is an avid hunter and fisherman.
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Allen McElwain, Funeral Director and Embalmer
Allen McElwain joined our staff in November 2013. Allen is a lifetime Claremore resident. He graduated from Claremore High School and the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor's in Mortuary Science. He is married to Anne McElwain and they have three sons. He is a member of First United Methodist Church in Claremore.
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William Guess Leonard, Funeral Director and Embalmer
Guess is a Rogers County native, living in Bushyhead the last 20 years. This eager young man started working for MMS-Payne washing the cars and helping with funerals in 2015. He is now a license Funeral Director and Embalmer. Guess is a graduate of Claremore Sequoyah High School in 2016. Guess graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in the spring of 2020 with a bachelor's degree in Funeral Service. Guess is married to Chelsea ( Allen) Leonard, they made their home in Bushyhead. He is the son of Wade and Sammy (Copp) Leonard of Claremore. The grandson of Johnny and Linda Leonard of Claremore, Jerry and Tracy Copp and Billie and Tom Stiedley all of Claremore. Guess is an avid Team Roper and outdoorsman.
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Jimmy Dale Beggs Jr., Funeral Director and Embalmer
A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Jimmy graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 2014, where he was a three-time state champion in quiz bowl (academic bowl). In February of 2016, he started his career in funeral service shortly after moving to Tulsa at the young age of 19. He earned his Associates of Applied Science in Mortuary Sciences from Amarillo College – Amarillo, Texas in 2018. Jimmy’s passion for serving grieving families makes coming to work easy. An avid fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks, he spends most of his free time watching every sporting event the Razorbacks participate in. Wooooo Pig Sooie!
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Chad Haddox, Apprentice Funeral Director and Embalmer
Chad is a Rogers County native, having lived in Chelsea and Claremore. He graduated from high school in 2016. Him and his wife Shea married in 2017 and now have two children, 3 year old Levi and 2 year old Avery. After marrying, he and Shea lived in Chelsea for 2 where Shea is from. Shea is the daughter of Larry Wisdom and Lisa (Dunn) Landell and the granddaughter of, Allen and Angela Dunn and Larry and Anna Wisdom. Chad is now working towards becoming a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He is currently attending Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and will be fully licensed next summer. Chad is the son of Darin and Kittie Haddox and grandson of Leon and Judy Haddox. He is the youth leader at his church and is very active there. Chad is an avid musician playing the guitar, piano, banjo, and bass. He is also an avid outdoorsman.
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Timalyn Parks, Family Service Representative and Pre-Arrangement Counselor
Timalyn is a longtime resident of Rogers County. She has been married for 24 years to Tim Parks who has lived in Chelsea his whole life. Together they have 3 children: Andrew and his wife Caselyn, Abigail, and Austin all of Chelsea. Timalyn is an active member of her church, participating in several different groups. She loves spending time with her family, cooking and going sight seeing. Timalyn counts it an honor to help families who are in need at such a difficult time.
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Susan Bickford, Chelsea Funeral Home Office Manager
Susan Bickford has been the Office Manager at Chelsea Funeral Home and Crematory since 2003. She considers it a privilege to be able to help comfort grieving families. Susan graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Rogers State College. She is a wife and mother who is actively involved with her family, church and community.
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Sharon Moody, Inola Funeral Home Office Manager
Sharon is a native Oklahoman and has called Claremore home for over forty years. She attended school in Tulsa. She was a former manufacturer representative in sales and marketing but now loves serving the families at MMS-Payne Funeral Homes. She joined MMS-Payne in 2014. She is married to Jack, has three sons, Brian and his wife Kim, Chris and his wife Tina and Chad and his wife Jill as well as eight grandchildren. She is a member of Claremore First Baptist Church in Claremore. Sharon loves travel, family and crafts.
